Gardening tasks for Late January and Early February

Chitting Potatoes for an early crop

January

Winter Pruning – Fruit Trees

• Complete pruning of apple, cherry, pear, and plum trees before buds break
• Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches
• Shape the canopy for good air circulation (helps prevent future mildew issues)
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-how-to/fruit-garden/environmentally-friendly-pest-control-for-fruit-trees/

Apple Tree Hygiene

• Apply winter tar wash (Vitax Winter Tree Wash) to apple trees to reduce pest eggs and lingering mildew spores
• This should be done on a dry, mild day
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/vitax-yellow-sulphur-powder/

Raised Bed Maintenance

• Apply winter wash to raised bed frames to eliminate overwintering pest eggs and mildew spores
• Clean and inspect greenhouse structures

Rose Pruning

• Prune roses back to outward-facing buds, removing about one-third of growth
• Cut back to healthy wood (white/green inside, not brown)
• Remove any remaining black spot affected leaves
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/?s=rose+black+spot

Mid-February

Vegetable Sowing – Under Cover

• Broad beans: Sow in deep pots or modules for planting out in March
• Early peas: Sow in guttering or deep trays indoors
• Onions: Start onion sets in modules if not already done
• Garlic: Check garlic planted in autumn is establishing well
• Leeks: Start leeks from seed in seed trays using Coco Coir compost
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/blog/grow-your-own-fruit-veg/

Early Salad Crops

• Lettuce: Sow early varieties indoors in modules
• Spinach: Direct sow under cloches or in cold frame if weather permits
• Radish: Quick-growing crop – sow successionally in greenhouse

Herb Preparation

• Check on rosemary, sage, and oregano – trim any frost-damaged shoots
• Pot up some mint in containers to control spread before spring growth

Compost Bay Setup

• Continue building compost bays from builders’ pallets (as per garden report recommendations)
• Feed existing compost heap with Growmore fertilizer
• Remember: No mildewed material in compost – bin it instead
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-how-to/organic-grow-your-own/how-to-make-great-compost/

Late February

Greenhouse Preparation

• Clean greenhouse glass to maximize light for spring growing
• Check and repair any damaged panes
• Set up grape vine training wires if not already done
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-how-to/fruit-garden/how-to-growing-a-grape-vine-in-a-cold-glasshouse-in-the-uk/

Vegetable Bed Preparation

• Begin preparing vegetable beds by adding garden loam to improve soil structure (helps prevent mildew)
• Remove any winter weeds before they set seed
• Apply Growmore fertilizer to beds at one handful per square metre
• Cover with cardboard in areas where you’ll plant later (prevents weed germination)

Early Potato Preparation

• Potatoes: Chit seed potatoes indoors in egg boxes or trays in a light, frost-free place
• First earlies should have good shoots by late February

Greenhouse Sowing

• Tomatoes: Sow seeds in Coco Coir compost for greenhouse planting
• Peppers & Chilies: Start seeds indoors in propagator or warm windowsill
• Aubergines: Sow in modules with heat (18-21°C)
• Basil: Start early sowings for greenhouse growing

Sweet Pea Support

• If you want sweet peas, sow now in deep pots (root trainers ideal)
• Place in cold frame or unheated greenhouse

Ornamental Garden Tasks – Throughout February

Front Garden

• Check climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) – pin back any loose stems to wall
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-tips/pruning-hydrangea-petiolaris-on-garden-wall/

Lavender Care

• Tidy lavender plants but don’t prune hard yet – wait until after last frost
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/blog/gardening-tips-pruning-lavender/

Philadelphus Pruning

• If Philadelphus needs thinning, late winter is the time to remove old wood
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/?s=pruning+philadelphus

Euonymus Check

• Inspect Euonymus under the tree for any reversion (plain green shoots)
• Cut out any reverted growth to prevent it taking over
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/?s=euonymus+reversion

Mulching Preparation

• Order spent mushroom compost or well-rotted manure for spring mulching
• Have cardboard ready for weed suppression around new plantings
• Remember: Don’t use spent mushroom compost around acid-loving plants

Pest & Disease Management – Throughout February

Mildew Prevention Strategy

• Continue implementing the mildew management plan:
  • Ensure good soil structure improvements are ongoing
  • Have Vitax Yellow Sulphur ready for first sign of mildew in spring
  • Dispose of any remaining mildewed plant material from last season (bin, don’t compost)
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/vitax-yellow-sulphur-powder/

Slug Control Preparation

• Order slug nematodes ready for application before spring planting
• Apply to soil 6 weeks before sowing or planting vulnerable crops
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/blog/natural-slug-control-with-nematodes/

Pheromone Trap Preparation

• Order codling moth pheromone traps ready to install in March/April
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-how-to/fruit-garden/environmentally-friendly-pest-control-for-fruit-trees/

General Maintenance – Throughout February

Watering

• Check greenhouse plants need watering (less frequent in winter)
• Refill watering cans so water can warm to room temperature before use
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/?s=watering+cans

Tool Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen secateurs and pruning saws
• Oil tool blades to prevent rust
• Check irrigation system components are ready for spring

Planning Tasks

• Review companion planting plan for vegetable garden
• Plan where to position nasturtium and calendula for pest control
• More info: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-tips/what-is-companion-planting/

Wildlife Support

• Keep bird feeders topped up during cold weather
• Ensure wildlife pond (if installed) has an ice-free area
• Leave some areas undisturbed for overwintering beneficial insects

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February Vegetable Sowing & Planting Schedule

Based on Ali’s fruit and vegetable list, here are the priority crops for February:

Under Cover (Greenhouse/Windowsill):

• Tomatoes (late February)
• Peppers & Capsicum peppers
• Chilies
• Aubergines
• Cucumbers (very late February if heated)
• Basil
• Coriander
• Lettuce
• Leeks
• Onions (from sets)
• Peas (in guttering)

Could Start if Conditions Allow:

• Kale (hardy varieties)
• Spinach (under cover)
• Radish (quick crop in greenhouse)

Preparation for March Planting:

• Potatoes (chitting)
• Broad beans (in pots)
• Spring onions (prepare site)